Apparatus for dyeing



(No Model.) a sheets-sheet 1. J. P. DELAHUNTY.

APPARATUS FOR DYEING.

Patented Apr. 6, 1897.

Inventor.

Attorney.

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APPARATUS FOR DYEING.

1%. 580,124. Patented Apr. 6, 1897.

Inventor.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH P. DELAI-IUNTY, OF WEST PITTSTON, PENNSYLVANIA.

APPARATUS FOR DYEING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 580,124, dated April 6, 1897.

Application filed June 1, 1896. Serial No. 593,730. (No model.)

T 0 all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, J OSEPH P. DELAHUNTY, of W'est Pittston, Luzerne county, State of Pennsylvania, have invented an Improve ment in Dyeing Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to dyeing apparatus; and it consists of the improvements which are hereinafter described and claimed and which are shown in the accompanying drawings.

My improved apparatus is especially adapted for yarn-dyeing, and relates to that class of machines in which the yarn is carried upon a frame which is raised and lowered in the dye vat or tank.

It is one of the objects of my invention to enable a batch of yarn to be handled with case, so that it may be easily and quickly conveyed to and from the tank or vat and introduced therein or taken therefrom.

It is also an object of my invention to enable the yarn to be dyed with rapidity and uniformity.

A part of my improvements relates to the devices for moving the yarn-frame to and from the vat. For this purposel employ an overhead railway or track upon which the yarn-frame may be suspended and upon which it may be moved, and a truck having a movable platform which may be raised to take the yarn-frame from the track.

A part of my improvements relates to the construction of the yarn-frame, whereby it is adapted to be suspended from the track and moved thereon.

My invention also embraces improvements in the devices for raising and lowering the yarn-frame, and certain other combinations of parts and improvements in construction which are hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is an end elevation of my improved yarn-dyeing apparatus. Fig. 2 is a detail view, en- 1a-rged,of part of the yarn-stick-rotating mechanism. Fig. 3 isaside elevation of the same. Fig. 4 is a side view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1 with the yarn-frame elevated. Fig. 5 is a detail view of the devices for supporting and moving the yarn-frame to and from the vat. Fig. 6 is a detail view of a part of the mechanism for raising and lowering the yarn-frame. Fig. 7 is a perspective View of part of the yarn-frame. Fig. 8 is a similar view of part of the lifting apparatus of the The Yarn-Frame and Devices for Turning the Sticks.

F and G are respectively the upper and lower yarn-sticks of the yarn-frame.

The yarn-fra1ne, as shown, is composed of two end frames, each consisting of two uprights B B,united at top and bottom bytransverse pieces B B and braced by diagonal cross-bars B B and of the supporting-frames F F and G G for the upper and lower sticks, respectively, connected at their ends with the end frames. To adjust the sticks to suit skeins of different sizes, I prefer to make the stick-supporting frames adjustable with respect to one another. I have shown the lower frames G G ad justably connected with the end frame by means of slots 6 in the uprights B and clamping-screws I), carried by the frames G G. If desired, the upper frames F F may be adjustable. The upper stickframes F are provided with sockets to receive the ends of the sticks, and the socket at one end is rotatable, so that the sticks may be turned. I have shown the frames F provided with open seats fto receive one end of the sticks and with socket-pieces f for the other end, journaled in the frames F.

For convenience in construction and to enable the gearing for driving the socket-pieces f to be located partly on each side of the yarnframe I prefer to arrange the seats f and socket-pieces f alternately and oppositely on the two frames F F, as shown. The sticks are supported at one end in the open seatsf of one piece F and at the other end in the rotary socket-pieces f of the other piece F.

II ll are driving-shafts extending along the pieces F F and journaled in suitable bearings. Carried by the shafts H H are a series of bevel-gears h, each engaging a bevel-gear Z), carried by the socket-piecesf, so that when the shafts H H are rotated the socket-pieces f and the sticks F will be turned.

H H are pinions on the shafts H H.

The lower stick-supporting frames G G are provided with sockets g for the ends of the sticks G. These sockets are open to permit the sticks to be inserted and removed, but are preferably closed after the sticks are inserted by a movable bar or frame to prevent accidental displacement of the sticks. As shown, the frames G are provided with a hinged section G having an inwardly-projecting lip g, adapted to extend over the sockets g and lock the ends of the sticks, as shown in Fig. 10. The sockets g are preferably made large enough to permit the sticks G to play vertically to suit changes in the length of the skeins due tothe action of the liquor. Some materials shrink under the action of the liquor, while others stretch, With the former the sticks are adjusted so that they will occupy a low position in the sockets g, and when the skeins shrink they will lift the sticks. Vith the latter materials the sticks are adjusted so that they will occupy a high position in the sockets, and when the skeins stretch the sticks will be lowered. Thus the sticks will automatically adjust themselves to suit changes produced in the length of the skeins by the action of the liquor without the necessity of positively adjusting the frames G G.

H are guard-rails carried by the frames F F and G and extending along them on the inside to prevent the outer skeins becoming entangled with the ends of the sticks and sockets.

The pinions H are loose on the shafts H and are free to turn thereon in one direction, but are held against turning upon the shafts in the opposite direction by a pawl and ratchet H Fig. 2.

I are racks located on the interior of the vat in the line of movement of the pinions H, which they engage and rotate during a portion of the vertical movement of the yarn-frame. As the frame ascends the pinions are turned by the racks, and, being then held by the pawls and ratchets against rotation on the shafts H, they turn the shafts and rotate the sockets f, thus turning the sticks. On the downward movement the pinions turn freely on the shafts without rotating them or turning the sticks. Thus with each reciprocation of the yarn-frame the upper sticks F are turned and the skeins are shifted. A slight movement only is required. The movement at which the turning of the sticks is effected maybe varied by adjusting the vertical positions of the racks I.

The Devices for Raising and Lowering the Yarn-Frame.

While any suitable devices may be employed for raising and lowering the yarn-frame, I prefer the following: At each end of the machine is arranged a cross-head J, provided with eyes 1, adapted to engage lugs Z on the ends of the yarn-frame.

J J are boxes on the ends of the crossheads which are provided with rollers j, adapted to run in contact with vertical guides j on the framework. Each cross-head is provided with an upright rack J engaging a pinion K, carried on a shaft is, journaled longitudinally in the upper framework.

K is a worm-wheel on the shaft which is operated bya worm K on a transverse driving-shaft 7t.

L L are pulleys loose on the shaft is, and oppositely arranged, so as to rotate in opposite directions. As shown, they are positively driven by belts-L L one belt being crossed.

Q is a clutch carried by the shaft 1.; and adapted to be thrown into engagement with either pulley L L, thus causing the shaft 70 to be driven in one direction or the other, according to which pulley is thrown into engagement with the shaft. he clutch Q is connected by a lever Q with a shifter-bar Q guided in a frame in the top of the framework.

P is a weighted lever fulcrumed in the framework and engaging the shifter-bar Q at its lower end. \Vhen the lever B is thrown to one side or the other, it shifts the bar Q and throws the clutch Q into engagement with either the pulley L or L.

The lever R is connected by a rod or link R with a bell-crank R the other end of which is connected with an upright movable rod R provided with stops r r. The rod R engages a portion of the frame B or cross-head J, so that the stops 1' 7' will be struck by the frame or cross-head as the yarn-frame reciprocates. As the frame B ascends it strikes the stop 4', thereby lifting the rod R and throwing the lever B to the rightin Fig. 1 through the connections R and B. This movement of the lever B throws the clutch Q to the right into engagement with the pulley L, so that the shaft k is rotated in one direction and the pinions K K operate upon the racks J to cause the yarn frame to descend. As the yarnframe descends it strikes the lower stop 1' and lowers the rod R thus lifting the lever B and throwing the clutch Q out of engagement with the pulley L and into engagement with the other pulley L, which instantly drives the shaft 7.; in the opposite direction and raises the yarn-frame. Thus the yarn-frame is antomatically raised and lowered in the vat. As it is desirable, however, that the yarn should be allowed to remain in the liquor for some interval of time I prefer to employ additional devices for temporarily arresting the operation of the clutch.

S is a lever fulcrumed in the upper frame work and carrying on one end a pin or projection s, which is adapted when thrown forward to project into the path of the lever B, and thus prevent it from falling so as to 0perate the clutch Q. This projection s is shown,

Figs. 1 and 6, guided in a frame 5. The other end of the lever S (which is shown provided with a roller 8 bears against a disk T, provided with one or more cams t if, so that when a cam 15 strikes the lever S it will rock it and retract the projection s, which normally extends in the path of the lever B and prevents it from falling. A spring .5 acting on the lever S holds it in normal contact with the disk T and with the projection s projected.

The disk T is carried by a worm-wheel T, which is operated by a worm T on a transverse shaft T journaled in the upper framework. The shaft T is driven by a pulley or spocket-wheel U, through a belt or chain U, from a pulley or sprocket-wheel U on a shaft to in a frame a on the top of the upper framework, and this shaft u is driven from a belt V by a pulley V. The pulley or sprocketwheel U is loose on the shaft u and may be thrown into or out of connection therewith by a clutch V Normally, as will be seen, the projection 8 extends into the path of the lever B, and consequently will prevent it from falling and throwing the clutch Q into engagement with the pulley L when the rod R is operated through the stop 7'; but as the lever B has been operated sufficiently to withdraw the clutch Q, from engagement with the pulley L the shaft is will be without connection with either pulley and will remain at rest and the yarn-frame will not rise. The yarn-frame will thus remain at rest in its lowest position until the cam 25 or one of them, it several be used on the disk T, operates the lever S and retracts the projection s, when the lever B will fall and the clutch Q will throw the pulleyL into connection with the shaft is. The cam 25 will remain in contact with the lever S sulficiently long at least to permit the yarn-frame to ascend and descend before it is released, and the projection s is again projected in the path of the lever B. The size and number of the cams 'lmay of course be varied to suit the length of time it is permitted to let the yarn remain submerged in the liquor.

The yarnframe may of course be counterbalanced. I have shown the cross-heads J J connected with weights TV by cords to, passin g over pulleys u in the upper framework.

The stops 0" rmay of course be adjusted to vary the extent of up-and-down movement imparted to the yarn-frame.

X is a handwheel on the shaft It, by which the shaft may be operated by hand to raise or lower the yarn-frame.

The Overhead Railway and Truckfor Carrying the Yarn-Frame.

D D are rails carried by the main framework over the ends of the vat and extending out laterally.

D D are guides or carriages on the ends of the yarn-frame. They are shown in the form of hinged yokes provided with rollers (7,

the frame is then lowered until the rollers rest upon the rails and support the yarnframe, as shown in Fig. 4. The cross-heads J are then lowered sufficiently to disengage the eyes Z from the lugs Z of the yarn-frame, which may then be moved laterally upon the rails D D.

Suitable devices may be employed for operating the yokes D. For this purpose I have shown rods M journaled at one end in the top of vat and engaging at the other end eyes m on the yokes. The rods M are operated by handles M to enable the two yokes D D on each side to be operated together. The rods M M may be connected by a shaft M When the rods M are turned into an upright position, as shown in Figs. 4. and 7, they act upon the yokes D D through the eyes m and throw the yokes upward.

To steady the frame when it is moved over the rails D D and to insure it moving uniformly at each end,I employ an endless band or chain N, arranged parallel to the track D on each side and passing over sprocket-wheels or idlers N. The chains or cables are each provided with a fork or finger N which engages one of the yokes D on each side, (or some other suitable portion of the frame,) and the chains are connected, so as to move in unison, by a shaft N carrying one of the wheels N of each pair. Motion imparted to one end of the yarn-frame is thus positively transmitted to the other end, and the frame may be moved easily over the tracks D D and without the expenditure of great power.

For carrying the yarn-frame away I employ the truck E, mounted on rollers E, by which it may be moved from place to place in the dye-house. This truck is provided with a movable platform E, which may be raised and lowered. For this purpose the platform E is supported upon eccentrics 0, carried upon shafts O, is provided with suitable sockets o,which receive the eccentric O. The shafts O, by which the eccentrics are carried, are preferably connected together, as by a chain P and sprocket-wheels P, so that they may be operated together by the turning of one of the shafts by a key or wrench.

When the yarn-frame P is moved upon the tracks D D into a position over the truck E, as shown in Fig. 7, the platform E is elevated until it lifts the yarn-frame sufficiently to disengage the rollers cl from the tracks. The yokes D D are then thrown down and the platform is lowered with the frame, which may then be carried away upon the truck to another vat or elsewhere. yarn-frame from the truck to the rails and from the rails to the vat the operations are the opposite of those described.

The track D D may be arranged to extend In moving the over a series of vats, and the yarn-frame may be moved from one to another for different operations in the process of dyeing, &c., before it is received upon the truck E.

It is apparent that the various details of construction which have been shown may be varied without departing from the invention.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a dyeing apparatus, the combination of a vat, a yarn-frame, means to raise and lower the yarn-frame, an overhead track extending beyond the vat, and guides carried by the yarn-frame and adapted to be thrown into connection with the track to support the yarn-frame thereon and permit it to be moved to or from the vat.

2. In a dyeing apparatus, the combination with an overhead track, of a yarn-frame, and carriages hinged to the yarn frame and adapted to be thrown into engagement with the track to permit the yarn-frame to be supported thereby and moved thereon.

3. In a dyeing apparatus, the combination with an overhead track, of a yarn frame, yokes Dhinged thereto and adapted to be thrown into engagement with the track to support the yarn-frame thereby and permit it to be moved thereon.

4. In a dyeing apparatus, the combination with an overhead track, of a yarn frame, yokes D hinged thereto and provided with rollers (Z and adapted to be thrown into engagement with the track to support the yarnframe thereby and permit it to be moved thereon.

5. In a dyeing apparatus, the combination with an overhead track, of a yarn-frame, yokes D hinged thereto on opposite sides of the yarn-frame and provided with rollers d and adapted to be thrown into engagement with the track to support the yarn-frame thereby and permit it be moved thereon and a connection between said yokes to operate them simultaneously.

6. In a dyeing apparatus, a yarn-frame provided with hinged yokes D having rollers 01, and the rods M engaging eyes on on the yokes and provided with handles h for raising and lowering the yokes.

7. In a dyeing apparatus, the combination of an overhead track, a yarn-frame, means for suspending the yarn-frame from the track at opposite ends or sides, an endless belt or chain adapted to be connected with the opposite sides or ends of the yarn-frame and a connection between said endless belts or chains whereby they move in unison when the yarn-frame is moved.

8. In a dyeing apparatus, a yarn-frame havin g supporting-frames for the upper and lower sticks respectively, one set of which is provided with rotary sockets for the yarn-sticks, a shaft journaled in the yarn-frame, bevelgears between the shaft and rotary sockets,

and means for rotating the shaft when the yarn-frame is moved.

9. In a dyeing apparatus, a yarn-frame having supporting-frames for the yarn-sticks, rotary sockets adapted to receive the ends of the yarn-sticks, a shaft carried by the yarnframe, gearing between the shaft and the rotary sockets, a pinion loose on the shaft and connected therewith by a pawl and ratchet, and a stationary rack arranged in the path of the pinion and adapted to operate it to rotate the shaft and turn the sticks while the yarnframe is moving in one direction.

10. In a yarn-dyeing apparatus, the combination of a yarn-frame, lifting cross-heads each adapted to be detachably connected with one of the ends or sides of the frame, and means for raising and lowering the crossheads.

11. In a yarn-dyeing apparatus, the com- .bination of a yarn-frame, lifting cross-heads J, J, detachably connected with the yarnframe and provided with the racks J J and devices acting on the racks J J 2 for raising and lowering the cross-heads and the yarnframe carried by them.

12. In a yarn-dyeing apparatus, the combination of a yarn-frame, driving mechanism for raising and lowering the yarn-frame, reversing mechanism for operating said driving mechanism in one direction or the other, and devices operated by the movements of the yarnframe for controlling said reversing mechanism.

13. In a yarn-dyeing machine, the combination with a yarn-frame and means for raising and lowering it, of reversing devices for changing the direction of movement of the means for raising and lowering the yamframe, the rod R provided with the stops 9", 1'" adapted to be struck by the moving yarnframe, and connections between the rod R and the reversing devices.

let. In a yarn-dyeing apparatus, the combination of a yarn-frame, driving mechanism for raising and lowering it, reversing mechanism for operating said driving mechanism in one direction or the other embracing a shifter-operating lever B, devices controlled by the moving yarn-frame for operating said reversing mechanism and its lever B, and an intermittently-actuated stop for arresting the lever B and holding the reversing devices out of action.

15. In a yarn-dyeing apparatus, the combination of a yarn-frame, driving' mechanism for raising and lowering it, reversing mech-' hold said lever and the reversing mechanism out of action, and cam devices operated independently of the yarn-frame for actuating anism out of action until released by said 10 said projection and retracting it at intervals. stop mechanism.

16. In a yarn-dyeing apparatus, the com- In testimony of which invention I have bination of a yarn-frame, driving devices for hereunto set my hand. raising and lowering it, reversing mechanism JOSEPH P DELAHUNTY controlled by the movement of the yarn-frame for reversing said driving devices, and stop W'itnesses: mechanism operated independently of the S. P. FENN, yarn-frame for holding said reversing mech- P. A. GIBBONS. 

